Tools of the trade: a pen and paper; a light to guide the way; some references to aid in the search for the right word.
I wrote White Squirrels and other monsters because an elderly, cantankerous man and his great nephew pitched camp in my mind and would not leave. Uncle Woody's family stories take on special meaning, for he and his nephew are the last two members of a clan of Pattersons. In battling a white squirrel (Moby), the two men are drawn closer together until, at last, they form a caring family.
My second novel, Ring the Bell, follows a company of firefighters for one day on the job. As a retired fire chief, I drew upon my experiences with the types of incidents firefighters respond to, and in particular, how they work as a team to accomplish their mission. I also provided insight into the dynamics of station life, as well as each crew member's life outside the department. Finally, we find out about what is happening with the civilians who need help, pre, during, and post incident. A note: I wrote the first draft in 30 days as a NaNoWrimo project (National Novel Writing Month). It is a great way for a beginning writer to learn discipline.
Canelands is number three. On the news one evening, I saw a young Guatemalan girl crying hysterically. The child was in a chain-link fence enclosure at the southern border. She had been deliberately separated from her mother. I was angered and upset seeing such an innocent suffering. The outlines of Canelands soon came to mind as a way to bring attention to her cruel and unnecessary treatment. A country preacher is called by God to go to the southern border and pray for the children. The novel is in many ways a compilation of love stories: parents and children; spouses,; young love; God's love for his children.
Feedback from readers is vitally important. Several friends and relatives looked over my first draft with all my novels. Their comments helped greatly. I am also fortunate to be in a local writer's group (SKY Writers). These friends each write in a different genre, yet they all work with a common goal in mind: trying to tell the best story possible. In that vein, I am curious to hear what you liked and what you didn't, what moved you and what you thought was frivolous. NOTE: A great way to help a writer is to post a short review. This can be done in a few moments on Amazon or Goodreads.
I hope you will join me on this writing journey. Along the way, I will post selected pictures in my photo gallery that I have taken on my daily walks and explorations, with a paragraph or two on occasion in my blog about how a particular photo has stirred my thoughts. I will also keep you informed on the progress of my other ongoing writing projects.
I invite you to take a look at my blogs. Subjects vary. I write about whatever interests me at the moment, so there's a good chance you'll find something to suit your fancy.
BOOKSTORES & SHOPS CARRYING MY NOVELS
(* Canelands only)
KENTUCKY
Ashland -- Broadway Books
Berea -- The Taleless Dog Booksellers
Bowling Green -- Candlemakers on the Square
Campbellsville--Sweetwater Bookshop
Dawson Springs--Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Eddyville--The Shire Bookstore
Frankfort -- Poor Richards Books
Georgetown -- The Full Shelf
Grayson -- Nook and Cranny
Hardin--Kenlake State Resort Park
LaGrange--From the Ground Up
Lexington –-Joseph Beth Booksellers*
Louisville -- Carmichaels Books *
Madisonville -- Readmore Books / Bobbi’s Hallmark
Midway--A Likely Story
Monticello -- Main Street Bookstore
Morganfield-- Bells & Whistles
Russellville –- 219 Main
Stanford--Kentucky Soaps & Stuff
Shepherdsville--From the Ground Up
INDIANA
Evansville -- Your Brother’s Bookstore
Jasper -- The Next Chapter Books
OHIO
Cincinatti -- Joy and Matt
Cincinatti -- The Bookery
Milford -- The Book Matters
TENNESSEE
Franklin -- Landmark Books
Hendersonville -- City Square Books & Music
Murfreesboro -- Crying Cat Books *
Nashville--Grimey"s *
Red Boiling Springs--Step Back in Time
Smyrna -- The Spine
BOOK SIGNINGS
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Book Festival
Kentucky International Convention Center
October 18 & 19, 10:00 AM -- 6:00 PM each day
Nashville, Tennessee
Southern Festival of Books
Bicentennial Capitol Mall
October 26, 11:00 AM -- 1:00 PM
Murray, Kentucky
Author Meet & Greet
Calloway County Library
October 27, 2:00 PM--4:00 PM
Falls of Rough, Kentucky
Rough River Resort State Park
Deer Widow Weekend
November 1, 5:00 PM --6:30 PM
November 2, 9:00 AM -- 5:00PM
November 3, 9:00 AM -- 2:00 PM
Bardstown, Kentucky
Local Author Spotlight
Nelson County Public Library
November 21, 4:00 --6:00 PM
Order Canelands direct from Carmichaels
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